Chapter 327 A New Deal (1/2)
Arran and the three commanders followed Captain Kaleesh warily as he roup of soldiers in the distance, but theunder his breath, he walked with a spring in his step, clearly eager to meet the newcomers
The soldiers, however, watched his approach with cautious eyes While it was unlikely that they expected to find enemies this close to the borderlanders' caer with open suspicion
And no wonder — even Arran had to admit that Captain Kaleesh looked more than a little questionable
Yet the captain ht in front of the front group of soldiers, bringing the entire column behind theed roup of soldiers Dressed in a uniform that was subtly different froeant or coed by the unexpected obstacle
”What's the er ”Who dares get in the way of Lord Kadun's troops?”
”A pleasure to meet you, as well,” Captain Kaleesh replied in an unconcerned tone ”Now be a good soldier and fetch me your leader We have business to discuss”
”You think some outsider can just step up and er only fueled by the captain's words ”You think—”
”What's going on here?” a voice interrupted him When Arran looked, he saw that it came from a short man, dressed in a fine silk robe
As the nition flashed across his eyes ”Ah! You h perhaps not so soon I am Payam, one of Lord Kadun's stewards”
”Captain Kaleesh,” the captain corrected hiotiations over with quickly, before the other Lords' representatives arrived” He shrugged, then continued, ”But if you wish, we can wait Lord Rannoc's delegation should be arriving soon Perhaps I should pay therew pale in an instant ”There's no need for that,” he said hurriedly ”Come, we can discuss your employment while my men set up camp”
It took the steward some minutes to direct the soldiers in their tasks, but after that, he returned to Captain Kaleesh
”It is a pleasure to h I have to admit that I expected you to have more men with you” He cast a look at Arran and the three cohtfully ”But I suppose the five of you are a good start”
”These are my commanders,” the captain replied, some amusement in his voice ”The rest of my troops are still in the camp”
”Your commanders?” The steward frowned, and with a curious expression, he asked, ”Then you have more Body Refiners under your command? How many, exactly?”
”About two hundred,” Captain Kaleesh replied, a slight smile on his face as he looked at the steward
The steward's reaction did not disappoint In an instant, his eyes ith shock ”Two hundred?! And all of them are Body Refiners?”
”Correct,” the captain said ”Now, can we do business?”
”Two hundred…” There was a tremble in the steward's voice, as if he could scarcely believe it ”What do you want?”
Captain Kaleesh smiled ”Three months to earn our citizenshi+p, and we keep half of e find in thethat time”
”Impossible,” the steward replied instantly ”You ask too ive you a tenth of what you find, but no more than that”
”Three months,” the captain repeated, his voice firm despite the friendly smile on his face ”And half of e find”
The steward gave him a miserable look ”It's tooto that”
Captain Kaleesh stretched out lazily ”Then I'll have to visit Lord Rannoc's delegation, and see if he has a better offer to make”
”Wait!” the steward exclaimed, a tremble of panic in his voice ”Four months, and a quarter of whatever you find I can't offer more than that Please, be reasonable”
”Very well,” the captain said ”I will accept your offer Should I gather my men now, or would you prefer to wait for the other Lords' delegations to arrive?”
The steward cast a worried look at the other groups that were already setting up camps in the area ”How much time do you need?”
Captain Kaleesh frowned ”An hour should be enough”